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Please forward this newsletter to anyone interested in
helping people build self-confidence, strengthen communication skills
and boost energy levels.
Mark your calendar and don't eat
anything until our . . .
December
17 "Year Worth Remembering" Potluck Fiesta
Contact Gail DaSilva (858) 654-1109 for details and to sign up.
Club Members Delivering Juice 
Many of our club members have been out in the field restoring service
to the areas devastated by the recent San Diego Firestorm. A special
thanks to all who keep the juice flowing. I don't believe the general
public has a clue as to the extraordinary commitment of the folks at
SDG&E.
Despite the increased workloads, every club meeting has been filled
to capacity and has included several guests.
In times of crisis such as the firestorm, organizations turn to
leaders with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
The skills you develop through Toastmasters come into play when you
are thrust into situations when communication is essential. You never
know when the opportunity will present itself.
photo (c) 2003 Ted Walton
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President's Message by Alan Colton |
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Fellow Century Toastmasters, I
am pleased to return for a second term as president of our club. I
have enjoyed the first term and have being challenged and
stretched in this role.
Our club is continuing in its
vibrant and challenging ways for our members. The membership
has grown, and I hope that each of you will continue to commit
yourself to growth and investing in others. This term could not
have been as much fun or as successful if it wasn't for the great
group of dedicated officers. We are all very busy in our
professional and personal lives, and I encourage everyone to
continue to improve through involvement in the speaking
opportunities and in the leadership opportunities offered by the
club.
Twice a year we place more focus on the leadership of our club,
and this is one of those times as all of us contemplate our
commitment to available roles within our club. I recently read an
article by Dr. John C. Maxwell entitled, "When Leadership Finds
You." In this article Dr. Maxwell states, 'that usually great men
and women don't go looking for leadership.' As Plato once said,
'Only those who do not seek power are qualified to hold
it.'
If you want it, you probably shouldn't have it.
Instead, if you are committed to excellence, (as in Toastmasters),
leadership will come (as in being an officer).
The article goes on to give four key commitments that great
leaders commit themselves to that lead them to greatness:
- They commit themselves to growth - Toastmasters
- They commit themselves to a larger than life vision -
Leading a club or an area or a district
- They commit themselves to action - Never refuse stage
time
- They commit themselves to leaving a legacy - Investing in
others
Dr. Martin Luther King was a great example of one who was not
looking for leadership when it found him. When Dr. King received
the 1964 Novel Peace Prize, he said, "History has thrust me
into this position. I neither started the protest, nor suggested
it. I simply responded to the call of the people." As you
commit to growth, what calls are you hearing for leadership?
Consider a first step of being an officer in our club.
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Don't Sit on Your Gifts by Jim Tucker |
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 "Hey, that looks
like Popeye." "Thank you," I'd say. "It does a little bit doesn't
it?" I was in elementary school and people would compliment me on
my drawings. Their compliments made me feel good. I would make
every attempt to create the best artwork to get noticed by the
teacher and the students. This was potent stuff for the shy,
introverted boy I was.
Drawing was my natural gift. I could draw better than every one
in my class with the exception of Bruce Jones. Bruce was
brilliant. His drawings were carbon copies of the original. He was
my competition. I wanted to outdraw him. This rarely happened
however. Occasionally I would top him but Bruce won hands down
most of the time. One day I decided to stop focusing on drawing
better than Bruce. I decided I would draw to entertain people. I
made up my own comic books. A funny thing happened. Sometimes
Bruce would make up his own comic book. Then Bruce Taylor and
Charles Brown started making comic books. Pretty soon, the entire
class benefited from all these comic books to read. It would have
been easy for me to stop drawing altogether since I couldn't
outdraw Bruce. But, if I had taken that route, the universe (my
classmates) would have missed out all those comic books. I had no
idea other students would be inspired to create this mini
publishing industry.
Many people sit on their gifts. People with great talent let
their gifts lie dormant while they bank on other unnatural skills.
I did. I pursued engineering when my first love was art. Even
though I was good in math, drawing was easier. How about you? What
gift are you sitting on? Don't say you don't have one because you
do. You just may not recognize it as a gift. What do you find
easier to do than others do? What do people compliment you on? 
About Jim Tucker
Jim defines the
true spirit of Toastmasters International. For over 30 years, he
has continually developed his speaking and presentation skills
using the Toastmasters system.
In August, Jim once again
earned the right to compete in the Toastmasters International
World Championship of Public Speaking where he was one of the
top 9 speakers in the world competing.
Jim
is a very active member of Century Toastmasters and is a model to
members of all levels.
Read
the rest of the article here »
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The Icebreaker by Julio Sanchez |
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 Julio Sanchez, a
recent addition to Century Toastmasters delivered his first
speech, "The Icebreaker"
I thought that it might be
helpful to other club members to see how he structured his talk.
Julio is not a native English speaker, and has joined Toastmasters
to develop his communication skills.
He mentioned to me
that he is "much funnier" when speaking Spanish. He's quite the
cut up in English as well.
And now, here's Julio . . . .
Coming to America
Hi, I would like to tell you a
little bit about me, so you get to know me better and understand
how I came to reside in the USA and to be an American Citizen. I
was born in Lima Peru in 1960. Because Peru is highly centralized,
outside of Lima, the capital, most of the country is open nature.
Peru has three very distinctive regions: a nice Pacific
Coast shoreline, the tall Andes Mountains, and the seemingly
infinite Amazon Jungle. Therefore, growing up there, I learned to
appreciate nature and enjoy outdoors. I also love doing sports and
have practiced them most of my life. I enjoy jogging and weight
lifting very early every morning, but my passion has always been
surfing. For leisure, I usually combine camping in desolated areas
where there are waves to surf.
I also learned how to speak in 4 languages due to my
globetrotter days. My native language is Spanish, learned
Portuguese because of family business, English by immigrating to
the USA, and Japanese at school.
Read
the rest of Julio's Icebreaker here »
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Officer Elections Held |
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The polls are
closed, the votes tallied, and the chads have been hung by the
chimney with care.
The club officers for first 6 months of
2004 have been elected and will sworn at (err, I mean sworn in) at
our
December 17 "Year
Worth Remembering" Potluck Fiesta.
Past District Governor and all around good guy, Martin Olmeda
conducted the election meeting. He regaled the spellbound audience
with his witty and thoughtful presentation as the final precincts
turned in their ballot boxes.
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President
Alan Colton
(858) 654- 8727 |
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VP Education
Ferdonya Henderson |
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Secretary
Matt Greenbergs |
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VP Public Relations
Dick Larkin |
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Sergeant at Arms
Julio
Sanchez |
All of the officers appreciate assistance, and volunteering to
fill in is a great way to help out without the full commitment.
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Thoughtful Quote |
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When I'm working on
a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve
the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not
beautiful, I know it is wrong.
R. Buckminster Fuller (1895
- 1983)
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Your Distinguished Club! |
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Toastmasters International recognizes clubs
achieving a variety of standards of success.
Our club is
currently recognized as a "Select Distinguished Toastmasters
Club." We attained this recognition by achieving 7 of the
10 membership, participation and professionalism goals in the
last cycle.
Here's where we currently stand. We have until
June 2004 to accomplish all 10.
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Meeting Schedule |
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Century
Toastmasters meets every Wednesday from 12:00 -
1:00
San Diego Gas & Electric
8306 Century Park
Court
Building 4 Room 4120D
San Diego, CA 92123
Guests and first timers welcome!
Map
and Driving Directions »
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Club Officers |
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 Left to Right
Playing hooky when we took
the group picture: VP
Membership - Gail DaSilva
Newsletter Publisher:
Alan Colton, Club
President
Transmission Engineering and Design, CP52B
San Diego Gas and Electric
8306 Century Part Court
San
Diego, CA 92123
(858) 654-8727
The mission of The Century Toastmasters Club is to provide a
mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which
every member has the opportunity to develop and practice
communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster
self-confidence and personal growth.
The club is fun, friendly, supportive and filled with
individuals who want more out of life.
Toastmasters is a
"learn by doing" club. Every meeting has small
and large opportunities to develop your speaking skills. Everyone
is invited (but never forced) to participate in the meetings.
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